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L e e h s W e e h S 2 S N 0| M BE H nu w w J I a d O M 0 W No. 340,109. Patented Apr. 20, 1886.

WITNESSES N Finns mn-Lixha n aw, Walhington, 0.0.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

F. J. J. GIBBONS. VE'LOCIPEDE.

NO. 340,109. Patented Apr. 20, 1886.

WITNESSES IJV VEJV' TOR jm Z z 44, MM Q T WJW .dttorney s N. PEYERS. PhutwL'vlhograpMr. Wahingtnm ac,

UNITED STATES ATnNT FFICE.

STAFFORD,

ENGLAND.

VELOClPEDE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 340,109, dated April 20,1886.

Application filed Decen'iber 31, 1885. Serial No. l 7,214. (No model.) Patented in England March 19. 1565, No 3,575.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANCIS Jos nrn JAMES GIBBONS, a subject of the Queen of Great Britain, residing at Wolverhampton, in the county of Stafford, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Velocipedes, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invent-ion relates to certain new and useful improvements in bicycles and tricycles.

It has been found in practice that in traveling at a high rate of speed on velo'cipedes the steering-wheel often wabbles, causing a jerky uneven movement to the machine. and at the same time somewhat lessening its speed. The same trouble also occurs when the rider becomes fatigued; and it is to overcome this difficulty and to insure the traveling of the machinein a perfectly-straight line that is the object of the present invention, and it is my design to provide means whereby the steeringwheels of bicycles and tricycles will normally travel in a straight line, and when the force which has caused them to assume any other positionfor instance, in turning a corner-- is removed said wheel or wheels will automatically return to their normal position.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and on which similar letters of reference indicate the same or corresponding features, Figure 1 represents a side elevation of my invention as applied to a tricycle; Fig. 2, a plan view thereof; Fig. 3, a

\ modified means of accomplishing the same object; Fig. 4, a plan view of Fig. 3.

The letter A represents the upper portion of a tricyclefork, and the letter B the bar connecting the steering-wheel to the rest of the machine. The upper portion of the fork terminates in a spindle, 0, around which is fitted the collar D, and above and below said collar are the spiral springs E, for the purpose of reducing to aminimum the vibration incident to traveling.

Beneath the bar B, and extending longitudinally therewith, is a spiral spring, F, inclosed within the casing-G. The forward end of this casing, or that end nearest the fork of the tricycle, is provided with an aperture, 50

forward end of the plunger having a crosshead, K, for a purpose which shall presently appear, while its rear end abuts against the spiral spring above referred to.

Securely fastened to the fork A are upwardly-extending arms L, to which is secured, by means of the bolts M, the steering-bar N. The bolts are squared at 0, so that they may be readily turned with a wrench. Both ends of the steering-bar are curved toward the front of the machine, so that when the spindle is turned through an unusual angle (as in turn ing a very sharp corner) the extremity of the bar, being curved,will approach the connecting-bar B at an obtuse angle, and the pressure exerted by the plunger will still be applied from or approximately from the center of its crosshead.

The operation of my invention is as follows: The spring normally presses the cross-head of the plunger against the steering-bar, as more clearly seen in Fig. 2. Then the rider turns the fork out of that position, the pressure of the spring (as soon as the force is removed) automatically exerts its strength by means of the cross-head to return the bar to its former position, and when in this position the machine will travel in a perfectly-straight line.

In Figs. 3 and 4 is shown a modification of my device, the spindle in this instance being provided with laterally-extending lugs P, having eyebolts Q, and the spring, instead of pressing toward the front of the machine, presses toward its rear. The plunger is provided with a downwardly-extending block, It, on each side of the center of which are secured bolts S, having eyes T, and extending from these eyes to the eyebolts Q are the chains S, one on either side of the machine. The operation of this modification is substantially the same as that already described, save that the spring exerts its pressure in a direction opposite to that shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

It is to be observed that with my improved steering device the velocipede can be automatically steered in a straight line, the hands being left entirely free, and it is only necessary to use them when the rider wishes to deviate from such course.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a velocipede, the combination, with the frame thereof, having a plunger inclosed within a casing and provided with a crosshead, of a spring which presses against said plunger and normally keeps the steeringwheel in a straight line.

2. -In a velocipede, the combination, with the fork thereof, haviug'arms which support the steering-bar, of the plunger inclosed within a casing and provided with a cross'head,

and the spring which presses said plunger against the steering-bar and normally keeps the steering-wheel in a straight line.

3. In a velocipede, the combination, with the fork thereof, having arms which support the curved steering-bar, of the plunger inclosed within a casing and provided with a cross-head, and the spring which presses said plunger against the steering-bar and normally keeps the steering-wheel in a straight line.

4. In a velocipede, thecombination, with the frame thereof, of a spring inclosed within a casing, provided with a plunger having a cross-head, and a fork provided with a steering-bar, against which the cross-head of the plunger abuts, whereby the steering-wheel is normally kept in a straight line.

5. In a velocipede, the combination, with the fork thereof, having arms which support the steering-bar, of the spring inclosed within the casing, Whose exterior. is provided with guide-bars,and a plunger having a cross-head, the spring pressing the plunger against the steering-bar, and the guide-bars directingthe movement of the plunger.

6. In a velocipede, the combination, with the fork thereof, vhaving arms which support a curved steering-bar, of the spring inclosed within the casing, whose exterior is provided with guide-bars, and a plunger havinga crosshead, the spring pressing the plunger against the steering-bar, and the guide-bars directing the movement of the plunger.

7. In a velocipede, the combination, with the fork thereof, having upwardly-extending arms which support a curved steering-bar, of the spring inclosed within a casing,whose exterior is provided with guide-bars, and the plunger having a cross-head, the spring press ing the plunger against the steering-bar, and

the guide-bars directing the movement of the plunger.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

, FRANCIS JOSEPH JAMES GIBBONS. Witnesses: I

P. T. NEVE, JOHN FEGAN. 

